From travelling solo and flying from your local airport to choosing the right type of trip, here’s what to know before booking your first Saga holiday.
Booking a holiday should be exciting, but trying a new travel company for the first time naturally raises a few questions.
Can you fly from a local airport? Will you feel comfortable travelling alone? How much walking is involved, and will there be someone around when you arrive?
Here are the answers to some of the questions you may have before booking your first Saga holiday.
Travelling solo can be liberating, but that doesn't mean everyone wants to spend their holiday eating alone or wondering who they're going to talk to. If the thought of arriving somewhere on your own is what's holding you back, Saga Travel has several options designed with solo travellers in mind.
There are dedicated departures for single travellers on more than 18 escorted tours across Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as destinations further afield including Africa and India. There are also exclusive single-traveller departures on selected hotel stays.
And these aren't simply holidays where you're left to fend for yourself. On dedicated single-traveller departures, a host will welcome you on arrival, organise a welcome meeting and drinks reception, and invite you to a welcome meal and farewell dinner. Groups are kept to fewer than 30 people, giving everyone a chance to get to know each other.
Saga also offers holidays with single rooms at no extra cost. These aren't exclusive to single travellers and don't include the same tailored activities, but they can offer good value and, not surprisingly, these rooms can sell out quickly.
Fancy seeing historic towns, exploring new places and getting out and about on a Saga escorted tour, but not sure how much activity you’re signing up for? Saga Travel’s pacing guide is designed to help you work that out before you book.
Tours are graded from one to four, considering things such as accessibility, how often you change hotels, the amount of walking and activity involved, travel days, free time and the overall level of adventure.
“Our pacing guide helps customers understand and determine which tour is right for them, from a more relaxed stay with free time to a higher level of adventure,” says Cassie Stickland, Senior Product Manager.
Saga's escorted tours can take you across the globe, from India to Ireland and Africa to the Adriatic.
For some people, the appeal of an organised holiday isn't simply having someone else plan the sightseeing, it’s about not having to think about the logistics either. Airport parking, transfers, insurance, meals, tipping… Suddenly your relaxing break has acquired quite a to-do list.
“Hassle-free holidays are what Saga strives to deliver,” says Stickland. “We want you to be able to focus on immersing yourself in the destination without worrying about the practical details.”
The included chauffeur service means your holiday can start at your front door, with a driver taking you direct to the airport, so there's no need to arrange airport parking or work out who's doing the driving.
The chauffeur service not only takes you to the airport, but it also collects you when you get back, so you can arrive home without the final faff of finding the car.
Living outside London doesn't mean your holiday has to begin with a cross-country journey to Heathrow. From April 2027, Saga Travel will include flights from local regional airports on many holidays, where available, at no extra cost.
And if there isn't a suitable local flight to your destination, a domestic flight can be arranged to get you where you need to be, again at no extra cost. That all-important chauffeur service will then take you from home to the relevant airport and bring you home again when you return.
You've made it to your destination, but what happens next? If you're somewhere unfamiliar, the last thing you want is to be left wondering where to go or how everything works.
If you're staying in a hotel, a Saga Travel host will be there to welcome you. They’re also available at the hotel 24/7. They'll explain how everything works, give you an orientation walk around the local area and host a welcome drinks reception and group dinner, giving you the chance to meet some of your fellow guests.
“Our hosts and tour managers are there to give guests the confidence and security to explore new destinations,” says Victoria Ellison, Product Manager. “They can provide local information and help with anything from ordering a taxi to booking a table at a restaurant.”
On an escorted tour, you'll have a Saga Travel tour manager, as well as local guides who know the destination inside out. They'll help you discover the area's history, culture and traditions, so you're not simply ticking off the sights without knowing the stories behind them.
Choosing a hotel you've never stayed in before can feel like a bit of a gamble. That's why Saga Travel has put a lot of thought into where our hotels are located and how they'll suit the type of holiday you're looking for.
“Great hotels in carefully chosen locations are key when our product buyers source new hotels for our guests,” says Ellison.
“Whether you want to spend your holiday relaxing on the beach or by the pool or prefer to see historic sites and immerse yourself in local culture, we will have a hotel stay to suit you.”
But for first-time Saga customers, there's an extra bit of reassurance for 2027: Love your first holiday, or your money back. If you're on your first overseas Saga holiday of more than seven nights and decide during your first day that you're not enjoying yourself, you can tell your Saga host or tour manager.
They'll try to resolve the problem within 48 hours. If they can't, Saga will arrange and pay for your journey home and refund the price of your holiday.
A hotel stay doesn't necessarily mean seven days of deciding whether you can face the pool again. If you want a mix of downtime and exploring, selected Saga hotel stays across Europe now include excursions as part of the holiday.
“We know included excursions can make all the difference when exploring a new destination,” says Richard Newsome, Product Director. “They allow guests to discover more of the area while still having time to relax and enjoy their hotel.”
And they’re designed to get you beyond the obvious tourist spots. Depending on where you're staying, you might take a train to explore Barcelona or visit a local Balearic market, for example.
Book seven nights and you get two half-day excursions included; stay 14 nights and that doubles to four, so it's worth checking what's included before deciding how long to stay.
‘Flying isn’t for everyone, which is why we’ve designed our University and College holidays to give guests another way to explore closer to home,” says Neil Cron, UK senior product manager. “They offer the opportunity to discover cities and towns in the UK while enjoying a sociable holiday with like-minded travellers.”
Our University and College holidays offer the chance to explore cities and towns across the UK during the Easter and summer holidays. In 2027, we’re adding four new locations – Brighton, Lincoln, Lancaster and Stirling – to the current locations of Colchester, Canterbury, Chichester and Falmouth.
They're designed with like-minded travellers in mind, with a different style of accommodation, included excursions, entertainment and a more sociable atmosphere.
Of course you can. But sometimes it’s useful to have a real person to talk to before you press ‘book’.
If you’re travelling solo, have mobility concerns, are returning to travel after a long break or simply aren’t sure how a particular holiday works, Saga’s travel advisors can talk you through the options and help you work out whether a holiday is right for you.
And it’s not just about answering questions. If you’re less confident booking online, having someone there to explain how the holiday works and talk through your options can provide valuable reassurance – and make the whole booking process feel much more straightforward.
“Kayleigh was an absolute pleasure to deal with. I had to wait a few days for confirmation as I was a late booker, but she sounded as excited as me when it was confirmed. The insurance process was easy, and the pick-up service was a joy.” Maureen Scanlan, who stayed at the Mabula Game Lodge, South Africa
Still wondering which type of holiday is right for you? Start with what you want from your trip
| If you want to... | You might like... |
|---|---|
|
Explore with everything organised |
An escorted tour |
|
Have a hotel base with excursions |
A hotel stay |
|
Travel solo and meet other travellers |
Single-traveller departure |
|
Stay in the UK and avoid flying |
A university and college holiday |
Explore Saga’s 2027 holidays and find a trip that suits the way you like to travel.
Booked your trip and thinking about travel insurance? When you're looking to compare travel insurance, don't settle for less.
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Saga offers escorted tours throughout Europe and as far afield as South Africa, Japan, Canada and Australia, plus hotel stays in popular European hotspots including Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Greece.
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